HARRY BEATTIE was always green with envy as a kid when he came up against Claremont AFC in their Scotland-style kits.

He admired that not only were they immaculately turned out but they had class to match and his Kelvin Villa side often struggled to beat them.

Little did the 52-year-old know back then he’d soon join the amateur outfit when he moved into the area after marrying wife Heather and starting a family.

But he could never have predicted that 19 years later he’d still be involved in Claremont and it’s now hard to imagine what the club would do without him.

Beattie is the heartbeat of the club where his two sons play, helping with running teams from five-year-olds right through to the amateur and ladies teams. And if that’s not enough, he has recently started offering coaching sessions to kids with disabilities and is looking to get a team up and running.

It’s a long way from his days playing against Claremont. He explained: “Originally I came from a different part of East Kilbride and our local side was Kelvin Villa so we always came up against Claremont.

“Claremont sides were always smart, very well presented and very good football players from that area of town. There was always competition between the sides and I have to say a bit of envy on our part.

“They were always smarter then us and had a better record than our team. They were established in wearing the Scotland colours of navy blue, white shorts and red socks.

“That was the case when I played against them as a boy – and it’s still the same to this day. In those days our national team was doing a wee bit better than we have been recently.

“Scotland were a standout in those days, qualifying regularly for World Cups, and Claremont looked the part in their kit.

“And when I moved into the area, because of the image I had of the club that was one of the things that attracted me to them.

“My initial involvement came through my eldest son Stewart who started playing with the club at the age of six and is still playing for our amateur side now at 25, with my youngest son Grant playing for the Under-21s.

“Once I was married we moved into the area and went along to Claremont.

“We were welcomed into the club and having been a bit of an ex-footballer I took up my coaching badges and started taking my son’s team. That was in 1993 and I’m still here now.”

Beattie, a Project Manager for City Building in Glasgow, dedicates so much of his life to the club that it’s no surprise he’s been nominated in our Best Volunteer in Youth Football category for our 2012 Grassroots Awards.

HELP FIND OUR UNSUNG HEROES

Who is the unsung hero of football in your area? The man or woman nourishing the grassroots of our national sport? We want to hear about them.

This is the ninth season of the McDonald’s/Sunday Mail Grassroots Awards and although we’ve rewarded dozens of local superstars over the years we know there are THOUSANDS more who don’t get the credit they’re due.

But we need you to tell us why your local grafters deserve recognition.

We’ll choose the best stories to highlight in the Sunday Mail every week before an expert panel of judges meets to decide the winners.

They will have a night to remember at a Hampden gala dinner in September and receive their award from Kenny Dalglish and Scotland boss Craig Levein.

We’re looking for the best volunteers in the following categories: Youth Football (primary age to 18), Adult (juveniles, amateur, welfare), Girls’/Women’s Football, Disabled Football and Schools Football.

The main prize, The Merit Award, can come

from any group. Anyone from outside the junior or pro ranks qualifies.

Email us at grassrootsawards@trinitymirror.com or fill out our form (right) including your own name, address and phone number then send to Grassroots Awards, Sunday Mail Sports Desk, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA.

Include as much detail as you can, telling us WHY your nominee deserves an award.